Laid Out and Candle Lit Page 8

  “How long had you and Mrs. Weston been friends?”

  “We go back to high school,” she said. “Marlene and I were cheerleaders together, in choir together, went to church together.” She blotted her eyes again. “I’m gonna miss her so much. I already do.”

  “I’m guessing she confided in you. Did she ever mention having problems with anyone?”

  “Whattaya mean? Like someone threatening her?”

  “Yeah, or problems at home with her husband or kids?”

  “No. She never complained about anyone other than Tizzy. For the life of me, I can’t understand why anyone would want to kill her. I heard through the grapevine her jewelry and money were missing. So if it was a robbery, it could have been anybody. Even someone passing through, right?”

  Ridge nodded. “Possible, but I think it was personal, so I’m focusing my investigation around that. I’m not ruling robbery out, but I’m not sure the missing jewelry and cash is the motive. Did she and Mr. Weston ever have any problems?”

  She diverted her eyes, then looked back at Ridge. “Not that I know of.”

  “What’s the history with Marlene and Carl? I understand they were high school sweethearts.”

  “Well, Carl wasn’t Marlene’s first choice.” Norma shook her head. “I’m not saying she didn’t love Carl. I think over time, she grew to care for him, but she married him because Mommy and Daddy approved.”

  Ridge leaned back in his chair. “Who was her first choice?”

  Norma laughed to herself. “That’s what’s so funny. He turned out to be quite successful. His name is Kyle Richmond and he lives in the Dallas area. In high school he puttered with cars and trucks, kind of a shade-tree mechanic. After graduation, he went to work for a trucking company and ended up owning the business.”

  “What about Carl? Was Marlene his first choice?”

  Norma stared off into space. “Oh, I think so. His family was well respected. They didn’t have money like Marlene’s, but Carl is a hard worker. He’s worked to build the bank over the years and done a good job.”

  Ridge jotted something down in his small notebook. “What about affairs? Did Marlene ever confide in you she might suspect Carl of cheating?”

  “Heavens no. Carl?” Norma scrunched up her face. “He’s really not the type.”

  “What type would that be?” Ridge asked.

  Norma laced her fingers together and rested her hands in her lap. “The kind who’d go to the trouble to plan and carry out some clandestine affair. He’s more apt to spend his free time building bird houses.”

  “What about Marlene? Would she confide in you if she’d been cheating?”

  Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped. “If she ever had an affair, or even thought of it, she never said anything.”

  “You remember the last time you saw her?”

  “Yes, she had a standing appointment with me every Wednesday at four o’clock. That was the last time.”

  Ridge leaned forward. “According to her cell phone records, the night of her death, she called you about the time she left the church meeting. Why did she call?”

  Norma swallowed hard and her eyes darted away. “She invited me to the movies over the weekend.”

  Ridge made another entry in his notebook. “You said Tizzy Donovan was the only one Marlene ever complained about. What kind of issues exactly?”

  Norma took a breath. “Work stuff. Tizzy stood up to Marlene. She made her life difficult and took a lot of pleasure in doing so. If Marlene said something was black, Tizzy said it was white. Tizzy enjoyed the misery she caused her.”

  Ridge closed his small notebook and clicked his pen. “Well, I think that’s all the questions for today.” He handed her his card. “If anything else comes to mind, give me a call. Thank you for your time.” He smiled and tipped his hat as he left.

  Ridge made his way back down to the police station and found everyone gone except for Rita. She looked up with a mouthful of cream-filled sponge cake, wiped the corners of her mouth, and swallowed quickly. “Hello, Cooper. I’m afraid all the menfolk are out and about.”

  “That’s okay, Rita. Do y’all have school yearbooks in the office?”

  “We do.” She got up and motioned for him to follow her down the hall, opening the door marked records. “On the top shelf, and I think there’s one for every year going back to the thirties. I guess you’re looking for the year Marlene graduated?”

  “Yeah, I think it would be nineteen eighty-five.”

  “They’re in order, so help yourself,” she said.

  He thumbed through the pages until he reached the graduating class. He squinted in deep concentration studying the pictures of Marlene, Norma, Carl, and Kyle Richmond. He tried to imagine how Kyle would look now, and recall if he had seen him at Marlene’s service. If memory served him, he believed Richmond was one of the first to leave, which meant he would have been sitting at the back, as far from the family as possible.

  He turned to the athletic pages. Cheerleaders Marlene and Norma, football players Carl Weston at guard and Kyle Richmond, quarterback. Kyle was good-looking, tall and lean, with dark hair. Even though the picture was black and white, the blue eyes were obvious. Oh yeah . . . good looking and the quarterback. Every high school girl’s wet dream. He started to close the book, but did some quick math. He turned to the kindergarten section and smiled. Tizzy McAlister. She looked like Gracie.

  He took the book up front. “Hey Rita, can you make a copy of this page?” Not realizing he still had his finger marking the kindergarten page, he handed it to her.

  She laughed. “You want a copy of Tizzy’s kindergarten picture?”

  He fumbled to get the book back, and stuttered. “I . . . I . . . no, I need this page.” Quickly he turned to the graduating class. “Also, run all four of their driver’s licenses.”

  “Sure.” She typed the names on her keyboard and within a minute, all four licenses appeared on her computer screen. While she printed them off, she waddled to the copier and ran the yearbook pictures. She passed the copies to Ridge and asked, “Would you put the book back for me? Oh, and by the way, I think Tizzy graduated in nineteen ninety- eight, if you want to see her senior picture.” She giggled.

  “Funny, Rita. Very funny.”

  The door swung open and Bubba stepped inside. “Hey, Cooper, Rita, what’s going on?”

  Ridge sat down. “Not much. I just finished questioning Norma Harkey.”

  Rita spun around in her chair. “What are you up to, Bubba?”

  “Not much. Old man Jones had some cattle get out on the highway this morning and I helped him get’em back in. That’s the most excitement I’ve had today.” He turned to face Ridge. By the way, isn’t this your day to go to Dallas?”

  “Yeah, but I’m not going until Monday. Thanks to Norma Harkey, I’ve got a new person of interest to question.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  From the moment Ridge came in, Lauralee Rainey had her eyes on him and Tizzy had her eyes on both of them.

  Ridge was wearing jeans starched so stiff they could stand alone, cowboy boots, a pink polo shirt, and no hat. He took a stool at the bar and Lauralee slid onto the one next to him. Tizzy had to admit, if the woman went a little lighter on the make-up and relaxed the big-bar-hair just a tad, she wouldn’t be bad looking. She had a nice body. Her low-rider jeans and skimpy tank top made it obvious. Her fingernails were long and painted. Her lips looked as if she could suck a peach through a straw, and a small butterfly tattoo peeked from the top of her right breast.

  Her thick lips spread into a smile. “Hi. I’m Lauralee. I don’t think we’ve met.”

  He extended his hand. “Ridge Cooper.”

  Tizzy leaned across the bar, wedging her body between them. “Good evening, Trooper Cooper. What can I get you?”

  “Hey, Tizzy. Let me have a beer.”

  She unscrewed the lid and passed it to him. “Here you go.” She cut her eyes to Lauralee. “Can I get you anyth
ing?”

  “No, I’m good,” answering without taking her eyes off Ridge, drool pooling at the corners of her mouth.

  Saint McAlister approached Ridge and stuck out his hand. “Hey, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Saint McAlister.”

  “Ridge Cooper. Good to meet you, sir.”

  Tizzy came back to the end of the bar and moved next to Saint. “Daddy, would you tell Freddy to get a case of Bud from the cooler?”

  “Sure, baby. Later, Cooper.”

  “Yes sir, nice to meet you.”

  Within a few minutes, Tizzy’s Uncle Sam joined her as Freddy brought the beer and set the case on the counter in front of her. “Thank you, Freddy,” she said, noticing Ridge looking at him. “Oh, Cooper, this is my Uncle Sam, Sugarpie’s husband, and you remember Freddy.”

  Ridge stood and shook Sam’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Sam.”

  “Tizzy, you need anything else?” Freddy asked.

  “Nope, that’s it for now. Thanks.”

  “Officer Cooper,” Freddy said, dipping his head, “how’s the investigation going?”

  “It’s coming along.”

  Freddy walked away and Sam draped his arm around Tizzy’s shoulders and addressed Ridge. “Since you’re living right next door to Tizzy, you’ll have to get her to cook for you sometime. She’s pretty good in the kitchen.”

  Ridge’s mind immediately thought of other rooms she would be good in. “Actually, she’s already cooked for me and you’re right, she is a good cook.”

  Sam smiled down at Tizzy. “Hmmm . . . has she now?”

  An hour later, Ridge looked miserable each time Tizzy caught his gaze. As soon as Lauralee made a trip to the jukebox, Ridge motioned for Tizzy. “Help me out,” he said.

  She tried hard not to grin, leaned in close and whispered. “Be sure you use protection.”

  “Dammit Tizzy. That’s not the kind of help I need. Help me get rid of her,” desperation in his voice.

  Tizzy lifted her brows. “Oh, so… you’re not interested?”

  “Stop playing with me. You know I’m not interested.”

  She broke into a laugh. “No. I don’t. What do you expect me to do?”

  He clenched his jaw. “I don’t know. Just do something.”

  “Okay. You make a trip to the little boy’s room and I’ll take care of it. But you’re gonna owe me. Big time.”

  “Okay. Fine. I’ll owe you.”

  Tizzy watched him walk away. He had a swagger about him. He was attractive. And even though he didn’t smile much, when he did, it was honest and sincere. She’d liked him from the moment she’d met him. She sighed, giving herself permission to think about how they would be more than friends under different circumstances.

  Tizzy was finishing her conversation with Lauralee when Ridge returned and took his place back on the stool. Lauralee turned to him and said, “Nice to meet you, Ridge Cooper. See you later.” She swept off, on to her next victim.

  Ridge raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you did, but thank you. What did you do?”

  Her lips thinned with a smile. “Nothing much. I told her she was wasting her time because you’re gay. She bought it, probably because of your pinkalicious shirt.”

  Ridge took a long pull on his beer and flashed a slow easy smile. “FYI, only real men wear pinkalicious shirts. It puts us in touch with our feminine side. Besides, those nails of hers could do some serious bodily damage.” He kept his smile and widened his eyes. “I like my women soft and cuddly.”

  A warm tingle started between Tizzy’s legs and spread heat through her body. Her brain scrambled for something to say. “Oh, Bubba proposed to Rayann last night.”

  Ridge shifted on his stool. “Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack. She called me at two o’clock this morning to give me the news. I’m happy for ’em. They’ve been in love since high school.”

  Ridge rolled the beer bottle between his hands. “That’s funny, because I thought Bubba was in love with you.”

  “With me?” She shook her head. “No way. Bubba’s in love with my lady lumps. I’ve known him all my life and I bet you he can’t tell you the color of my eyes.” Quickly she closed them and leaned forward. “How about you, Cooper? Do you know what color my eyes are?”

  Without a heartbeat of hesitation, he answered, moving his face closer to her. “They’re like puddles of dark chocolate except when you get excited and they fade to warm honey brown.”

  She kept her eyes closed, and her breath became ragged. “That was a good answer, Cooper. A very good answer,” she said, her body getting hotter.

  “Keep your eyes closed. Now, tell me what color mine are,” he said.

  She took a deep breath. “The simple answer would be blue.”

  A smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “What’s the not so simple answer?”

  “They’re really ocean blue. But in the sunlight, I can see little tiny flecks of green, like newborn blades of grass when they first break the soil.” Her heart pounded so hard, she was sure he could hear it. She opened her eyes to find him inches away from her. The vein below his ear was throbbing. She kept her arms on the bar for fear of fainting if she tried to stand up straight. She struggled to think of something to say. Damn! Why did she flirt with him? Why did she say the stupid stuff about the grass?

  “Forget the crap about the grass. They’re blue. Just blue,” she said.

  He sat back on his stool laughing, and took another slow sip of beer. “What are you Tizzy, the town temp? You work at the bank, bakery, bar, and now I find out you volunteer at the clinic. Just how many jobs do you have?”

  She counted on her fingers as she repeated . . . bank . . . bakery . . . bar . . . clinic. “I think that’s all of them. What can I say? I’m a Jill of all trades.”

  Saint walked up and stood next to his daughter. “Hey Cooper, how’s it going?”

  “Fine, Mr. McAlister.”

  “Please call me Saint. We’re about to announce last call, but you’re welcome to stay if you like. Bubba usually stops by for a beer after his shift. I’m always here for a while after we close. Tizzy and I generally share a dance.” He smiled, draping his arm around her shoulders. “Tonight, sweetie, why don’t you dance with Cooper? I need to go over some receipts.”

  “Oh, that’s okay, Daddy.”

  He insisted. “No, no sweetie. I’m sure Cooper won’t mind dancing with you.” He turned to face Ridge. “You won’t mind, will you?”

  “Absolutely not. I won’t mind a bit.” He looked at Tizzy. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

  She stuttered. “Oh, I… I want you to. I mean . . . sure.”

  Like clockwork, Bubba and Rayann arrived and Ridge called out to him. “Hey, man, I understand congratulations are in order. That was fast.”

  Bubba grabbed Ridge’s hand and shook it. “Thanks, Cooper. I know it seems fast to you, but I’ve been in love with Rayann for a long time so I didn’t see any need to wait.”

  Rayann stuck out her hand and dangled her ring in front of Ridge.

  “That’s beautiful, Rayann. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks, Cooper. Now, take off your gun, Dwayne, and come over here,” she said, pulling him toward the dance floor. He handed his weapon to Tizzy and she put it under the counter. Bubba easily lifted Rayann into the air and twirled her around.

  Ridge held out his hand, palm up. Tizzy placed hers in his and they made their way to join Rayann and Bubba. When the music started, he took possession of her. She closed her eyes and breathed him in. He smelled like coconut and the shoe department at Dillard’s, a combination she found intoxicating. It’d been a long time since a man held her close and then there was the whole coconut-shoe thing he had going for him. In her mind, she had a little fantasy involving Piña Coladas and four-inch red stilettos. Feeling dizzy, she laid her head on his chest and he pulled her tighter against his body. The music and words of Clay Walker filled her head. For a moment, she didn’t hea
r Ridge speaking.

  “Tizzy? Tizzy? Margie Lou! The song is over.”

  She snapped her head back. “What did you call me?”

  He chuckled. “You heard me.”

  Lines formed in her forehead. “I’m not sure I did. Did you call me Margie Lou?”

  He smiled a lopsided grin. “Yeah. What are you gonna do about it?”

  She laid her head back down on his chest, closed her eyes and sighed deeply. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Okay, listen up everybody, and I do mean everybody. If any of you know anything about Marlene’s death, this would be a good time to tell me.” Tizzy paused and gazed out over the graveyard. No flashes, no thoughts, no voices came from anyone.

  “Okay,” she said, wringing her hands. “Y’all know the Ranger investigating her murder. Well, he thinks I may have something to do with her death,” she said. “Right now, it’s not looking too good for me.” She closed her eyes and breathed deeply in and out through her nose, waiting for a response. “I really need some help, y’all. C’mon, you tell me useless stuff all the time.”

  She hesitated and nodded. “Okay, it’s not all useless. You were right about dating the box salesman. That could have been a disaster, him being married and all. But this is one time I really need help. Point me in the right direction. Give me some idea who would do this.” She started to softly cry, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “Please, help me. Give me something. Grandma . . . Poppa . . . Paw. . . Boone . . .”